10 Events to Put on Your Calendar for New Orleans Entrepreneur Week 2026 & New Orleans Book Festival

^{Video spotlight | Tulane Innovation Day 2025}

New Orleans is a city built on creativity and big ideas. New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (March 9–13) and the New Orleans Book Festival (March 12-15) at Tulane University bring a full slate of conversations, pitches, panels, and meet-ups across the city this week. From founders and investors to students and community members curious about the region’s startup ecosystem, there’s plenty to see and learn. Here are 10 events the Tulane Innovation Institute team is looking forward to (it’s hard to just pick 10); we hope to see you there. All events are free and open to the public, though registration is encouraged.

Tulane Innovation Day Highlights

1. Tulane Innovation Day & $50K Demo Day
Wednesday, March 11 | Noon–5 p.m.
A.B. Freeman School of Business, Tulane University

Tulane Innovation Day puts founders and investors on stage for an afternoon focused on venture creation and capital strategy. The program opens with a conversation between seasoned tech entrepreneurs Bong Suh and Brett Hurt. A venture funding panel follows, featuring Kimberly Gramm of Tulane Ventures and Jesse Lee of East Dune Holdings, joined by Chris Millan of BekenBio and Rahul Gopal of CampusKnot, examining fundraising strategies and investor expectations. At 2:15 p.m., $50K Demo Day will feature 10 startups from Tulane and the New Orleans region competing for non-dilutive capital. The program concludes with a networking reception.

2. Changemaker Institute Feedback Forum
Wednesday, March 11 | 1:05 p.m.
A.B. Freeman School of Business, Tulane University

The Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking will host an interactive session designed to strengthen early-stage, pre-accelerator social ventures. Audience members are invited to engage with the fellows to provide insights and constructive feedback. The forum will feature concepts spanning education, health equity, environmental sustainability, and more.

More Key Events During the Week

3. Tulane Business Model Competition 
Monday, March 9 | 1–4:30 p.m. (Semi-finals)
Tuesday, March 10 | 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m. (Finals)
A.B. Freeman School of Business, Tulane University

Early-stage student ventures from universities around the globe will compete for a share of $125,000 in funding and receive feedback from experienced judges. This year’s finalists include SensorySync (University of New Orleans), BRCĒ (Michigan State University), FarmMind (Louisiana State University), NerView Surgical (McMaster University), Exactics (Tulane University), and Métopi (University of Virginia). Previous competitors will also present company updates during the competition, including Kalen Hall of Informuta.

4. WorkNOLA Talent Den x Work in Tech
Monday, March 9 | 5–7 p.m.
NOLA Brewing Co., 3033 Tchoupitoulas St.

A networking-driven event connecting job seekers, technologists, and employers to explore talent pathways and opportunities in the region’s growing tech ecosystem. 

5. HBCUs as Engines of Black Innovation
STARTUP NOIR NOLA
Thursday, March 12 | 2:40–3:10 p.m.
NOEW Summit at Loyola University
Audubon Room, Danna Student Center (2nd Floor)

Tulane Innovation Institute Community Program Manager Jalin Carter will join a panel on how New Orleans HBCUs are uniquely positioned to activate universities as engines of Black-led innovation. This panel examines how entrepreneurial programs, incubators, and R&D and technology commercialization offices can more effectively support student and community founders.

6. Resource Row at the NOEW Summit
Friday, March 13 | 10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
NOEW Summit at Loyola University
Danna Student Center

Pick up free merch and connect with organizations that offer valuable programs, services, and opportunities across the Greater New Orleans entrepreneurial ecosystem. Be sure to stop by the Tulane Innovation Institute booth.

7.  New Leadership, New Momentum: The Future of New Orleans Entrepreneurship
Friday, March 13 | 11:40 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
NOEW Summit at Loyola University
St. Charles Room, Danna Student Center (1st Floor)

Tim Miller, host of The Bulwark podcast, sits down with New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno to discuss the future of entrepreneurship in our city. Mayor Moreno will share her vision for supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem and creating conditions for businesses to thrive across every sector and neighborhood.

8. The Scarcity Trap in New Orleans
Friday, March 13 | 2:10–2:40 p.m.
NOEW Summit at Loyola University
St. Charles Room, Danna Student Center (1st Floor)

Brett Hurt, founder of Love Conquers Fear, Bazaarvoice and data.world will join New Orleans founder, Matt Wisdom of TurboSquid and Civilized.AI, for a conversation about how founders and ecosystem leaders can rethink ambition and position New Orleans to compete at a global scale.

9. The Future of New Orleans’ BioDistrict
Friday, March 13 | 2:50–3:20 p.m.
NOEW Summit at Loyola University
St. Charles Room, Danna Student Center (1st Floor)

Learn what’s shaping the next chapter of BioDistrict New Orleans. This panel will discuss the district’s renewed vision, current developments, and upcoming initiatives to expand the region’s bio, healthcare, and life sciences sectors. Speakers include Kimberly Gramm (Tulane Innovation Institute), Lucio Miele (LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center), and Leo Seoane (Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine), with moderation by Andy Kopplin of the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

10. New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University
Thursday, March 12 – Sunday, March 15
Tulane University campus

Among the 2026 participants are notable entrepreneurs and innovators, including Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web; Elyce Arons, co-founder of Kate Spade; Neal Bodenheimer, founder of CureCo and a leading figure in New Orleans hospitality; and Quint Davis, founder and longtime producer of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. 

Bonus event! Close out the week at NOEW at Night, Friday, March 13 | 5–7 p.m. at Gasa Gasa, 4920 Freret St, featuring live music from Jelly Joseph and a chance to celebrate the week’s ideas, innovations, and connections with the city’s founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders. 

For more information on NOEW 2026, and to see even more exciting events taking place, view the complete schedule here.